Music Lessons [Advice]

[Pandora]

DS' school offers music lessons during school hours.
Is prep too young to start? They rotate the time/day each week so they aren't continually missing the same lessons but I'm a bit in doubt and think maybe it's better for him to get a good grounding in literacy/numeracy first and not miss this?

Am I over analysing it?

Any thoughts?

[Tinks]

I think the younger you start an instrument the better. How long are the lessons? If it's only an hour per week he can probably make up for what he's missed at home or when he's finished other work.

DO you know any other parents at the school you could speak to? Our school tend not to interupt maths and english, they usually do things like this after lunch when the kids are doing other subjects.

[Pandora]

They're group lessons 1/2 hour a week. I guess I'm just paranoid ( and a geek - I gave up flute lessons at school cos it conflicted with maths and that was my favorite subject)

[Tinks]

LOL Pandora.

I think if he really wants to learn an instrument then missing 1/2 hr a week of school work would be ok or you could have private classes after school or on weekends that wouldn't clash with school. Or maybe just give him the opportunity next year and see if he wants to pursue it further.

[Amity]

DS1 started violin at 3. Stopped for prep, but is right back into it. His lesson is at the same time each week though. He loves it. I'd go for it.

[feeb]

They're group lessons 1/2 hour a week. I guess I'm just paranoid ( and a geek - I gave up flute lessons at school cos it conflicted with maths and that was my favorite subject)

PMSL Nerd girl LOL I loved when flute lessons clashed with maths!!!!!!!!!!

[diva det]

as a music teacher , i would wait a year a two
i just started teaching my twins now and they are nearly 8!
get the basics of school sorted and after he has that under control then maybe music lessons in grade 2 or grade 3!!!
the music lessons are the easy part- its the practice commitment that is hard!!!
trust me it will be you nagging him to practice at this age not him doing it on his own!!
wait hun

[Beach Mama]

Does the school have a music specialist?? If they do then I would think about holding off until grade 1 and get him settled into school. Great idea though and there are studies to show that children who start before 10 are more likely to continue long term and that students who have a quality music program at school, perform better across the board in other areas! Can you tell I am a performing arts teacher! Good luck!

[Pandora]

Do you mean specialist teachers? Yes there are about 5+ instrumental music teachers, depending on the instrument . From what I can tell they have a strong music program

[Beach Mama]

Mmmm I meant a general music program that is within the whole school curriculum as opposed to an "extra" lesson??

[Pandora]

Ooh, yep they have that as well